Inline Manufacturer Customer Service?

[RandyWakeman]

Who has the best, in your experience? The worst?

[big6x6]

Customer service is a huge concept.  It includes answering phones, replying to email promptly, updated web pages, dealer network, knowledgeable personnel, representatives that do what they say, having items in stock that are listed on your web site/in catalog, offering only functioning items, prompt warranty repair/return, and I'm sure I'm leaving things out.  

The BEST?...So far I like Knight and T/C.

The WORST...for me, White Rifles.

[AllenRead]

Three experiences:
Good - NEF - one call to get a new breech plug tool was all it took to get a free tool and a free pack of primer carriers.
OK - A & H - four calls and I never got through to Ray.  Gretchen finally sent me a new bolt assembly.  
Poor - A & H - two emails to Ray regarding a problem with the nickle finish on my rifle went unanswered.

[jdman]

On MZ only dealt with Traditions, one for a new barrell and one time for a 209 update kit. Both times excellent. Although not MZ had excellent results with Marlin on my old .22. Russ

[contendernut]

I haven't had any bad experiences with any of the three companies I've dealt with.  I haven't had a problem with T/C lately but a couple years ago, they would send any replacement part to you without question.  I understand they have been super busy in the last couple years and I haven't needed anything from them.

I sent a Knight trigger in for adjustment and it took about 4 days for them to adjust it, free of course, but it was right before hunting season.  I've heard that it is normally a 1 day deal.  They also took care of shipping.

I just bought a White.  I haven't even opened the box yet.  Ordering it and talking with the guys from White has been great though.  I understand that there have been problems with White, but I have been more than happy with them in my dealings.  I plan on opening it today and I may change my mind though.

[bukfevr]

I have only dealt with Knight and TC, but have had good outcomes with both so far.  New stock for TC Hawken when it cracked at the barrel lug after about 6 years and new trigger guard and free nipple from Knight.  Nipple seemed to be undersized and plastic trigger guard got broken.

[Flatland Hunter]

Three times with A&H all excellent!!

White? Well, haven't had an opportunity to use it yet but that is coming... we'll see.

[RandyWakeman]

Three times with A&H all excellent!!

Austin & Halleck is really going places. They bit the bullet on the old Weston, Mo. guns-- but, apparently it has paid off for them in a big way. Their sales through their rep network is up by about 40% this year, and including all sales (meaning sorting goods chain, etc.) their sales for calendar 2003 are fully DOUBLE that of 2002. I don't know of any muzzleloading company that can make that claim.

Thompson and Knight have been both very good for some time, according to most.

As for White-- 2004 looks to be a make it or break it year for them, by all accounts. :roll:

[big6x6]

"As for White-- 2004 looks to be a make it or break it year for them, by all accounts"

I agree.  And the said thing is, it should have never come to that.  White should have had THEIR best year ever.

[sheephunterab]

As for White-- 2004 looks to be a make it or break it year for them, by all accounts.

Possibly Doc should not have shunned the media so badly. Obviously they make a great product but Doc's attitude looks like it has prevented them from getting the press they deserve.

[Wolfhound]

Who has the best, in your experience? The worst?

Best for me has been Knight, worst Traditions. Lyman deserves mention as a good company for customer service as well even though it wasn't for an inline.

[RandyWakeman]

Possibly Doc should not have shunned the media so badly. Obviously they make a great product but Doc's attitude looks like it has prevented them from getting the press they deserve.

A comment like that can only come from someone who has never so much as ever met or spoken with him. What "shunning" do you have knowledge of? That is hardly the issue-- Doc White does not run the company that manufactures rifles of his design, which is White Rifles, LLC. Anyone who is interested in learning more about Doc White the person or his custom work can visit http://www.whitemuzzleloading.com to educate themselves a bit.

[sheephunterab]

What "shunning" do you have knowledge of?

Geeze Randy I don't know. Possibly when he called them liars and whores.

[RandyWakeman]

"He" didn't-- I did, on another board, excepting an interview that mentioned no individual, but one that is proven daily across the world.

As has been said,

Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry as if nothing had happened. Winston Churchill

A thousand words will not leave so deep an impression as one deed. --Henrik Ibsen

It is unwise to be too sure of one's own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err. --Mahatma Gandhi

Men have been chained to hideous walls and other strange anchors but few have known such suffering and bitterness...as those who have been bound to Pens. -- Charles Dickens

The books that the world calls immoral are books that show the world its shame. -- OSCAR WILDE

When a true genius appears in this world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him.
-- JONATHAN SWIFT


Everybody can write; writers can't do anything else.
-- MIGNON McLAUGHLIN

Perhaps the post was merely agreeing with the observations of Mark Twain?

Most writers regard truth as their most valuable possession, and therefore are most economical in its use. --Mark Twain

One of the striking differences between a cat and a lie is that a cat has only nine lives. --Mark Twain


Your commentary on the topic of "Inline Manufacturer's Customer Service?" is hoped for.

[sheephunterab]

"He" didn't-- I did

Okay, now you've got me totally confused now. Are you saying you attributed your own words to Doc? Are you saying you misquoted him? What the heck are you saying? Did Doc call writers liars and whores or did he not.

excepting an interview that mentrioned no individual, but one that is proven daily across the world.

So are you saying that writers are liars and whores?

Signed, confused in Alberta

[RandyWakeman]

I'm suggesting that this is completely off-topic, and if you need further personal insight for your own purposes, please take it off-line, and e-mail doc@whiterifles.com directly.

[sheephunterab]

I'm suggesting that this is completely off-topic

It's funny how it was completely on topic when you posted it and when you posted the poll on another site about writers. You can't have it both ways Randy.....well maybe you can on the site as the moderator.

I have no interested in e-mailing Doc as I have no interest in what he has to say, short of apologizing for his inappropriate comments. I think my posts on here are completely on topic, as you were the one that made the original post and I was just replying to what you had posted. How could that be off topic? I have not attacked Doc but kept my comments limited to what I consider very inappropriate comments about a goup of professionals to which I happen to belong.[/quote]

[RandyWakeman]

="sheephunterabI have no interested in e-mailing Doc as I have no interest in what he has to say

That's probably good news, best left to the internment of merciful time.